Stéphane Bolongaro’s exhibition in Monaco Automobile Museum

Marrying humor with consumerism, Stéphane Bolongaro’s art manages to seduce passers-by as well as seasoned art collectors. His universe gives a playful nod to childhood. The artist is well-known to the wider public for ‘Totor’, a Jack Russell terrier painted in bright colors which comes straight from his imagination.

“It’s a Jack Russell dog, a reassuring, touching dog, which evokes good emotions. It’s in different sizes, between 60 cm to 3 meters in height. It’s based on humor. This exhibition will hopefully give pleasure, because reality is always a bit somber, so it looks at things from a different angle. Not everything is lost, there is still hope. It has a friendly outlook,” said artist Stéphane Bolongaro during his vernissage in Monaco.

Stéphane Bolongaro splits his life between France and the United States. He has a fascination with the USA and is very inspired by American culture. The artist, originally from Nice and in love with the Côte d’Azur, finds his harmony on the other side of the Atlantic as well.

“I’ve always loved the US since I was young. Monegasques sculptors Sacha Sosno et Arman had apartments in New York and studios there so we worked together a lot in the beginning. They were my mentors. It’s joyful, it’s spontaneous, it’s not irreverent or sad art, they love that and understand it right away, so everyone is happy,”said Stéphane Bolongaro.

One of Stéphane Bolongaro’s pieces currently being exhibited in Monaco. Photograph: OdLD